330 BRITISH BIRDS' XESTS. 



tail-coverts are pale buff, shading into nearly white 

 on the chin, throat, and the centre of the belly. 

 . . . . Legs, feet, and claws horn colour." 



Dresser and Sharpe say that this Warbler has 

 the legs of a pale flesh-brown, and that those of 

 the Eeed Warbler are dark slaty-brown. 



The female resembles the male, but is somewhat 

 smaller in size. 



Situation and Locality. — A celebrated Continental 

 authority says that the nest is situated in low bushes, 

 overgrown with nettles, reeds, and other plants, and 

 that unlike the Reed Warbler, which builds its nest 

 amongst the reeds growing from the water, this bird 

 builds its nest amongst vegetation growing from the 

 bank of a stream or pond, and is never situated 

 over water. The nest is placed from a few inches to 

 several feet from the ground in swamps and other 

 places affording plenty of rough undergrowth cover. 

 It has been met with in the West of England and 

 in the Fen country. 



Materials. — Diy grass-stems, dead leaves, moss, 

 and downy-til)re, with a lining of horsehair. The 

 nest is said not to be so deep as that of the Reed 

 Warbler, and to lack the wool which is so often 

 used by the last-named bird. 



Eggs. — Four to seven, varying in ground colour 

 from greenish-white to greenish-blue, moderately 

 clouded and spotted with olive-brown, and underlying 

 markings of grey. The spots vary in size, intensity, 

 quantity, and disposition, but are generally most 

 numerous at the larger end of the egg. Their paler 

 ground colour generally distinguishes them from 

 those of the Reed Warbler. Size about -72 by 

 '54 in. 



Time. — June and July. 



Beniarls. — Migratory, arriving in May and depart- 



